Former Ilford Primark assistant manager pleads guilty to theft
Queues outside the new Primark store - Credit: Archant
The ex-assistant manager of a clothing retailer has admitted issuing himself refunds after he was caught on CCTV.
Felix Ogunleye, 37, of Ballards Road, Dagenham, pleaded guilty to 10 counts of theft by employee at Primark in High Road, Ilford, when he appeared at Barkingside Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.
The thefts, which occurred between Christmas eve last year and January, amounted to more than £500.
Ogunleye was arrested on suspicion of theft by employee at his home on Friday March 20 and denied the allegations when he was interviewed by police.
He was charged later the same day.
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Ogunleye had already resigned in January after being interviewed by management as part of an internal investigation.
Store bosses became suspicious when a high number of refund transactions were registered under his unique employee number after closing hours.
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Ogunleye obtained electronic copies of sales receipts, logged on to a customer service till using his unique employee number and on two other occasions used another employee’s log and issued a return of various items before pocketing the money on 10 occasions, the court heard.
CCTV footage showed that although there were members of the public standing near the till on several occasions, no one else was given a refund and no cash was tendered.
PC Sam Burrows said: “Ogunleye was employed as an assistant manager which placed him in a position of trust.
“He abused this position on a number of occasions with no regard for company policy or the repercussions. He pocketed over £500 as a result of his dishonesty and may have been doing so for some time.
“The investigation will be continued due to more evidence coming to light.”
Felix is due to be sentenced on Tuesday April 28 at Barkingside Magistrates’ Court.
